Atlanta has a thriving food scene, with a wide variety of great restaurant options. When you’re looking for dinner spaces in Atlanta, you’re spoiled for choice, whether you’re looking for classic Southern cuisine or something more exotic.
And while many people think of fancy restaurants when they think of good food, that doesn’t always have to be the case. Sometimes, the best food can be found in unassuming, hidden, and off-the-beaten-path spots. And you don’t have to spend a fortune to have a great meal.
10 great Atlanta hole-in-the-wall dining spaces
Here are 10 awesome hole-in-the-wall restaurants in Atlanta that you need to try out for your next dining experience.
1. Nick’s Food to Go
Located in a drab area just west of Oakland Cemetery, Nick’s Food to Go isn’t much to look at. Well, looks don’t matter much when you’re grabbing takeout!
Plus, Nick’s serves up some of the best Greek food in Atlanta, prepared by Nick Poulos’ wife, Eleni. The massive gyro of mostly lamb is what most people order. Other great options include the pork souvlaki, spanakopita, and pastitsio, available on Thursdays.
2. Hattie B’s Hot Chicken
Housed in a renovated Philps 66 gas station from the 1950s just south of Little Five Points, Hattie B’s serves Memphis-style hot chicken coated in a spicy rub and fried to a crisp. You can choose your level of heat from none to insanely hot.
A chicken sandwich is a great option as well. Whatever you choose, just plan ahead and leave yourself enough time, as there are often long lines at this hit spot.
3. Northern China Eatery
Located along Buford Highway, this hole-in-the-wall serves up some of the best northern Chinese cuisines in Atlanta, including some of the tastiest dumplings in town.
Their lamb skewers flavored in cumin are a must. The hot pot, in your choice of noodles, meats, and veggies, is deeply flavorful and comforting. The restaurant is popular during breakfast but offers delicious dishes all day long.
4. Dat Fire Jerk Chicken
Head to Dat Fire Jerk Chicken for tasty jerk chicken and other classic Jamaican cuisines. This no-frills spot is located across the road from Cleopas R. Johnson Park.
Besides jerk chicken, other good options include Jamaican beef patties, wings, and oxtail, and they can adjust the spice level to your tastes. There’s no seating indoors, so take your chances with the few outside tables or grab your food to-go.
5. Pijiu Belly
Located in West Midtown, this tiny gem of a Korean Chinese gastropub serves up great Asian fusion street food and small bites. Don’t miss their signature Korean fried chicken. The crispy pork belly sandwich is also a star.
There’s a great selection of local craft beers to wash everything down with, which is not surprising, considering part of the restaurant’s name means “beer” in Mandarin.
6. Mi Barrio
This unassuming spot in Grant Park serves up authentic Mexican cuisine in a cute, homelike atmosphere. The place is small and only fits a few tables inside and out, but the menu is full of deliciousness.
You can’t go wrong with the carne asada burritos, Lengua tacos, chili relleno, or tamales. Order a big pitcher of beer or potent margaritas to go with your flavorful feast.
7. Woody’s Cheesesteaks
For some of the best cheesesteak outside of Philly, head on over to Woody’s Cheesesteak. This little shack-like spot right across from Grady Stadium may be tiny in size, but it serves up a whopping amount of cheesesteaks by the thousands every week. Grab a classic cheesesteak, and if you still have room, a milkshake or float on the side.
8. Pit Boss BBQ
For some of the best-smoked meats in town, Pit Boss BBQ is the spot to go. This hole-in-the-wall space behind a liquor store is known for its awesome smoked wings, but the brisket and ribs are tasty too. Expect long lines at this popular BBQ joint. You can be tantalized by the smell of smokey goodness as you wait.
9. Elliott Street Deli and Pub
Located downtown, in the historic Castleberry Hill area, this tiny dive bar with a gritty look and vibe is a local favorite. Besides tasty cocktails, Elliot Street Deli and Pub, as the name suggests, is known for its sandwiches, made in a tiny nook of a kitchen inside the bar with a manual meat slicer and wrapped in plain butcher paper. If you’re lucky, you can listen to some live tunes as you chow down on your freshly-made sandwich.
10. Hankook Taqueria
Korean and Mexican fusion may seem an odd pairing, but it’s one that works very well at Hankook Taqueria. This dive in Underwood Hills may not be much to look at, but from the long lines, the restaurant’s patrons don’t mind. They’re here for the food. The menu is small, but everything on it is great. Grab some Korean BBQ-style tacos, and add a side of tempura-fried sweet potatoes or sesame fries. Also, look out for their food truck.
Finding great hole-in-the-wall restaurant dining spaces in Atlanta
As the above list shows, sometimes the best food can be found in the places where you least expect it. Just because a restaurant doesn’t look like much from the outside — and, in some cases, not even like a restaurant — doesn’t mean it doesn’t serve up great food. Check out the reviews before you dismiss a place. Ask around, especially locals, who may just let you in on the secret of that dive-looking spot with the amazing smells.
Resources:
https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=hole+in+the+wall+restaurants&find_loc=Atlanta%2C+GA
https://foursquare.com/top-places/atlanta/best-places-hole-in-the-wall